Meeting Wednesday night will discuss possible zoning change in Ventura to allow sheltering and services in one place.

The west county overnight homeless shelter is set to open Tuesday night, but how long it stays open this season depends on how much money organizers can raise in the coming weeks.

The shelter initially will operate from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., but could expand its hours past that starting Dec. 19, said the city of Ventura's homeless liaison, Peter Brown.

The details are still being worked out, but services to help people out of homelessness could be offered from 6 a.m. to 9-10 a.m., Brown said. That could happen at either the Oxnard National Guard Armory, where the shelter will be located this year, or someplace nearby, such as the Oxnard Police Activities League building.

So far, organizers have raised $249,000, which includes $60,000 from Ventura, $69,000 from Oxnard and $120,000 from the county. It costs $85,000 to $90,000 a month to run the shelter, so "we really only have enough to go through the middle of February," Brown said.

The shelter typically closes March 31.

The shelter isn't anyone's preferred choice of a way to deal with the homeless population, with those involved saying it leads to few people actually getting out of homelessness. City officials and social service leaders looked for an alternative but weren't able to find anything in time.

In Ventura, city officials are working to add zoning to allow daytime services and overnight sheltering to be in a single location with a permit. The city plans a meeting Wednesday night to discuss the changes to the Arundell District, at Market Street and Telephone Road. It's currently zoned for industrial and manufacturing uses.

A group of stakeholders, representing business, residence, social service and other interests, has been working since August to identify the best place for services and temporary/transitional housing to co-exist, Brown said.

"This meeting is for us to listen," he said.

Based on feedback gathered at the meeting and further study and discussion, the city will present recommendations to the Ventura Planning Commission early next year. In March, the City Council is expected to weigh in.

In coming weeks, shelter organizers will ask other cities to contribute to the effort, Brown said. Organizers also are waiting to hear on a grant.

Brown said the community can donate money at downtownventura.org/shelter. Residents can also drop off donations of sugar, oatmeal, coffee, socks, granola bars or fruit at Downtown Ventura Organization, 420 E. Santa Clara St.; Mission Church, 2875 Elba St. in Ventura; and the Oxnard Armory after 6 p.m. at 351 South K St.

Shelter manager Steven Karnazes plans to hold training sessions for people who want to volunteer their time. Email atti@roadrunner.com for more information.

The Ventura County Health Care Agency will have staff at the shelter Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to administer tuberculosis tests. Proof of a negative test result within the past six months is required. Those who test positive won't be turned away but will just need to begin treatment, Brown said.

Wednesday's meeting in Ventura will start at 6 p.m. at South Coast Fellowship Church at 4050 Market St. Can't attend? Email pbrown@cityofventura.net.